Massage tool



April 3, 1934. C, EI SAU'NDERS 1,953,436

MASSAGE TOOL Filed NOV. ll, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor C/,E-Saundem By @Mmzm liomey April 3, 1934. c. E. SAUNDERS MASSAGE TOOL Filed Nov. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenlor u/qllorney Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UirED s'rTEs 1 Claim.

This invention has for its primary object the provision of a simple and inexpensive tool for use in massaging the gums in the treatment of pyorrhea and for other prophylactic treatment.

1t is also an object of the invention to provide in a tool of the character above mentioned, a member to be placed in contact with the gums, which member is subjected to a vibrating or up g and down movement whereby the stimulation or massaging of the gums is accomplished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the tool.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tool, with the shield in a partly raised position.

Figure 4 is an end elevational View of the tool, the shield being removed and indicated by dotted lines in a raised position.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view through the tool.

Figure 6 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cam comprised in the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the tool in its preferred embodi- `ment comprises a handle 10 having an axial bore 11 extending therethrough and opening at the ends of the handle. A removable cap 12 is provided for one end of the handle, while at its relatively opposite end, the handle is provided with an exterior shoulder 13 inwardly from the end of the handle.

Extending at right angles from the last referred to end of the handle 10, is an arm 14 that is provided at one end with a collar 15 embracing the proximate end of the handle 10 and contacting the shoulder or flange 13.

Any suitable means such as a set screw 15 or the like may be used for securing the collar 15 in fixed relation to the handle 10.

At its free end, the arm 14 is provided with a lug or projection 14 extending at right angles to the arm and apertured for accommodating a guide tube 16 that extends parallel to the arm 14. The tube 16 may be welded or otherwise secured in fixed position.

A plunger is provided and the same includes a stem or shank 17 extending slidably through the guide sleeve 16 and having secured at its lower (Cl. 12S-51) end in any suitable manner, such as at 18, a cup 19 that is preferably made of rubber.

The stem or shank 17 is normally urged upwardly through the medium of a spring 20 that is disposed about the guide sleeve 16, and the lower end of the spring bears against the lug or projection 14 while the upper end of the spring bears against a collar or ange 21 fixed adjacent the upper end of the stern 17.

Extending through the bore 11 of the handle, is a rotatable shaft 22 that is journalled in a pair of relatively spaced bearings 23 arranged in the handle 10. One end of the shaft 22 extends through a centrally located aperture in the cap 12 whereby the shaft may be coupled to a suitable source of power, Each bearing has a radial opening registering with an opening 24 in the handle. A suitable lubricant may be introduced to the bearings through the openings 24 registering with the referred to openings in the bearings. The shaft 22 is retained against longitudinal shifting movement, through the medium of pins 25 provided on the shaft and engaging the bearings 23 as shown in Figure 5.

On the shaft 22, is a cam 26 that is engageable with the upper end of the plunger stern or rod 17 so that during rotation of the shaft 22, a reciprocatory movement is imparted to said stem or rod 17.

A removable shield or housing is provided, and the same comprises a substantially U-shaped portion 27, and a substantially bulbous portion 28. The shield or housing is open at one longitudinal side thereof, and opposite walls of the housing at the open side thereof are provided with inwardly directed flanges 29 engaging grooves 30 provided on relatively opposite sides oi the arm 14 and elongated longitudinally of the arm, so that as is apparent the casing or housing may be readily placed in position and supported by the arm 14, by initially placing the ilanges 29 at the smallest end of the housing in the grooves 30 adjacent the collar equipped end of the arm, and subsequently shifting the housing or shield longitudinally relatively to the arm.

To raise or remove the casing the operation is the reverse.

When the shield or housing is positioned on the arm 14, it will be apparent that the lower end of the housing is closed by the projection or lug 14', and that the lower or U-shaped portion 2'! of the housing encloses the guide sleeve 16 and spring 20 while the bulbous shaped portion 28 of the housing accommodates cam 26.

In actual practice, the free end of the shaft 22 is connected to a suitable source of power and the cup 19 then applied to the gum to be massaged. During rotation of shaft 22, through the medium of cam 26 engaging the adjacent end of the plunger stem 17, the latter is reciprocated for vibrating or causing an up and down movement of the rubber cup, and when the cup is applied to the gum this vibratory movement of the rubber cup will serve to stimulate or massage the gums.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a tool for massaging the gum or other surfaces, that is comparatively simple in construction and operation, can be easily manipulated, and while primarily intended for dental use can be used for massaging the face or any other part of the body.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself Yto the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, others as may be required by the scope of the appended claim and the requirement of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new is:

The herein described gum massaging device comprising essentially a hollow handle having an exterior shoulder adjacent to and spaced from its forward end, a shaft journaled in and extendingy longitudinally of said handle and also extending beyond the said forward end of the handle and provided on its forward end with a cam, an arm secured on the forward end of the handle and against said exterior shoulder thereon and extending laterally at right angles to the handle and having a guide in its forward end, said arm including housing means, a plunger guided in said arm and opposed at its inner end to said shaft'cam and having an abutment, a spring surrounding said plunger and enclosed by said housing means of the arm and being interposed between the plunger guide of the arm and the plunger abutment to retract the plunger and hold the same in engagement with the shaft cam, and a resilient cup carried at the forward end of the plunger and projecting forwardly beyond said end.

CLARENCE E. SAUNDERS. 

